Aging and Osteoarthritis: An Inevitable Encounter?

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major health burden of our time. Age is the most prominent risk factor for the development and progression of OA. The mechanistic influence of aging on OA has different facets. On a molecular level, matrix proteins such as collagen or proteoglycans are modified, which alters...

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Main Authors: Thomas Hügle, Jeroen Geurts, Corina Nüesch, Magdalena Müller-Gerbl, Victor Valderrabano
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:Journal of Aging Research
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/950192
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author Thomas Hügle
Jeroen Geurts
Corina Nüesch
Magdalena Müller-Gerbl
Victor Valderrabano
author_facet Thomas Hügle
Jeroen Geurts
Corina Nüesch
Magdalena Müller-Gerbl
Victor Valderrabano
author_sort Thomas Hügle
collection DOAJ
description Osteoarthritis (OA) is a major health burden of our time. Age is the most prominent risk factor for the development and progression of OA. The mechanistic influence of aging on OA has different facets. On a molecular level, matrix proteins such as collagen or proteoglycans are modified, which alters cartilage function. Collagen cross-linking within the bone results in impaired plasticity and increased stiffness. Synovial or fat tissue, menisci but also ligaments and muscles play an important role in the pathogenesis of OA. In the elderly, sarcopenia or other causes of muscle atrophy are frequently encountered, leading to a decreased stability of the joint. Inflammation in form of cellular infiltration of synovial tissue or subchondral bone and expression of inflammatory cytokines is more and more recognized as trigger of OA. It has been demonstrated that joint movement can exhibit anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Therefore physical activity or physiotherapy in the elderly should be encouraged, also in order to increase the muscle mass. A reduced stem cell capacity in the elderly is likely associated with a decrease of repair mechanisms of the musculoskeletal system. New treatment strategies, for example with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are investigated, despite clear evidence for their efficacy is lacking.
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series Journal of Aging Research
spelling doaj-art-11146f25810d4a55be8fcaa9b65133dd2025-08-20T03:55:45ZengWileyJournal of Aging Research2090-22042090-22122012-01-01201210.1155/2012/950192950192Aging and Osteoarthritis: An Inevitable Encounter?Thomas Hügle0Jeroen Geurts1Corina Nüesch2Magdalena Müller-Gerbl3Victor Valderrabano4Osteoarthritis Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel University, Spitalstrasse 21, 4031 Basel, SwitzerlandOsteoarthritis Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel University, Spitalstrasse 21, 4031 Basel, SwitzerlandOsteoarthritis Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel University, Spitalstrasse 21, 4031 Basel, SwitzerlandInstitute of Anatomy, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, SwitzerlandOsteoarthritis Research Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel University, Spitalstrasse 21, 4031 Basel, SwitzerlandOsteoarthritis (OA) is a major health burden of our time. Age is the most prominent risk factor for the development and progression of OA. The mechanistic influence of aging on OA has different facets. On a molecular level, matrix proteins such as collagen or proteoglycans are modified, which alters cartilage function. Collagen cross-linking within the bone results in impaired plasticity and increased stiffness. Synovial or fat tissue, menisci but also ligaments and muscles play an important role in the pathogenesis of OA. In the elderly, sarcopenia or other causes of muscle atrophy are frequently encountered, leading to a decreased stability of the joint. Inflammation in form of cellular infiltration of synovial tissue or subchondral bone and expression of inflammatory cytokines is more and more recognized as trigger of OA. It has been demonstrated that joint movement can exhibit anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Therefore physical activity or physiotherapy in the elderly should be encouraged, also in order to increase the muscle mass. A reduced stem cell capacity in the elderly is likely associated with a decrease of repair mechanisms of the musculoskeletal system. New treatment strategies, for example with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are investigated, despite clear evidence for their efficacy is lacking.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/950192
spellingShingle Thomas Hügle
Jeroen Geurts
Corina Nüesch
Magdalena Müller-Gerbl
Victor Valderrabano
Aging and Osteoarthritis: An Inevitable Encounter?
Journal of Aging Research
title Aging and Osteoarthritis: An Inevitable Encounter?
title_full Aging and Osteoarthritis: An Inevitable Encounter?
title_fullStr Aging and Osteoarthritis: An Inevitable Encounter?
title_full_unstemmed Aging and Osteoarthritis: An Inevitable Encounter?
title_short Aging and Osteoarthritis: An Inevitable Encounter?
title_sort aging and osteoarthritis an inevitable encounter
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/950192
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AT corinanuesch agingandosteoarthritisaninevitableencounter
AT magdalenamullergerbl agingandosteoarthritisaninevitableencounter
AT victorvalderrabano agingandosteoarthritisaninevitableencounter